Why Oxford and Cambridge are highly ranked for international students

Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest and most sought-after institutions in the world, and they have more than 800 years of history. For a long time, such institutions have been the ultimate destinations for students from all corners of the earth, mainly because of their undisputable academic reputation, rich culture, and what they have to offer more generally. In this blog post, we will discuss in detail why such institutions are ranked so highly for international students.

Oxford University:

The oldest university in the world is the University of Oxford, which has at least rooted that date back to the 12th century. Universally, it is considered one of the world’s great institutions of higher learning and is acclaimed for its teaching, research, and tradition. The University of Oxford comprises 38 independent colleges and six permanent private halls, each with its own history and academic perspective.

Advantages at Oxford University for International Students

Oxford is a member of several leading university groups, such as:

• Russell Group of research-intensive UK universities, the Coimbra Group (a network of prominent European universities), and the League of European Research Universities (LERU).
• The university also plays an important role in Europium, a network of European universities.
• Oxford was ranked one of the best universities in the UK in the 2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.
• The University of Oxford has received a gold rating on the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
• Five years after graduating, the average salary of Oxford alumni is about £43,000.

Location and Campus Facilities at Oxford University

• Located in Oxford, England, just 60 miles from London.
  Over 160 libraries, including the Bodleian Library, and 24 museums, such as the Ashmolean Museum.
• Modern research centers, cutting-edge laboratories, and extensive sports facilities.
• A mix of historic buildings and modern amenities create a unique study atmosphere.
  
  

  International Student Support

  The International Student Office provides:
• Visa assistance and immigration advice.
• Pre-arrival guidance and orientation programs.
• Academic support and personal mentoring.
• Dedicated international student societies to help students integrate.
• Regular cultural and social events to foster a global student community.

Tuition Fees and Scholarships for International Students at Oxford

• Tuition fees for international students range from £26,000 to £39,000 per year, depending on the course.
• Scholarships available include:
  Clarendon Fund for postgraduate students (covers tuition and living expenses).
• Reach Oxford Scholarships for undergraduates from developing countries.
• The prestigious Rhodes Scholarship for outstanding postgraduate students.
• Many scholarships cover a significant portion of tuition and living costs.

Accommodation and Living Costs at Oxford

• Guaranteed accommodation for first-year international students in college housing.
• Housing costs range from £700 to £1,200 per month, depending on the college and room type.
• Total living expenses (including rent, food, and transport) are estimated between £12,000 and £15,000 per year.
• Affordable dining options available at college dining halls.
• Student discounts across the city for leisure activities and cultural attractions.

Employment and Career Support

The Oxford University Careers Service offers:

• Career counseling, CV workshops, and interview preparation.
• Access to job fairs and networking events with top global employers.
• Support for part-time work during studies (up to 20 hours per week with a valid visa).
• The UK Graduate Visa Scheme allows international students to work in the UK for up to two years after graduation.
• Strong global alumni network and reputation for high graduate employability.

Cambridge University

The University of Cambridge was established in 1209 and is the second–oldest university in the English-speaking world, ranked consistently as one of the top five universities globally.

Advantages at Cambridge University for international students

Cambridge is known for excellent academic scholarship and is a member of many top university groups, such as:

• Coimbra Group (an association of leading European universities)
• League of European Research Universities
• International Alliance of Research Universities.
  
  It is also part of the “Golden Triangle,” a collection of first-class research universities in the southeast of England, beside Oxford and top London universities.
  
  Cambridge’s reach into world knowledge is unmatched, with 121 Nobel Prize laureates associated with the university, more than any other institution globally.
  
  The courses run at Cambridge are consistently ranked as the best around the world. It is one of the ten most targeted institutions by the UK’s top employers, as the data from Graduate Outcomes reveal.

Location and campus facilities at Cambridge University

• The University of Cambridge is 57 miles from London.
• The Complete University Guide ‘University Ranking’ category ranked University of Cambridge at position #1 in 2025.
• There are varied museums, art galleries, and collections at Cambridge University.
• Cambridge has nine specialist museums and collections that you can visit. They are full of items that you can only see here in Cambridge. They also have regular temporary exhibitions, so there’s always something new to see.

Student accommodation and living costs at Cambridge University

• Student accommodation in Cambridge varies in price and starts at £115 and can cost up to over £300 per week.
• Accommodation will be provided for single students without children for 3 or 4 years.
• College-owned premises will be used for the purpose of accommodation. Normally, you would not pay for rent for 12 months a year.
• Some of the top areas where students are keen to stay in Cambridge include City Center, Mill Road, and West Cambridge.
  
  If you are not staying in college accommodation, the university has an accommodation service that may be able to assist you in finding somewhere to live. They can help you with two types of properties:
• University-owned or managed accommodation scattered around the city. The minimum booking period is one year and can be arranged before arrival in Cambridge.
• Privately owned accommodation scattered around the city and villages surrounding it.
• The Accommodation Service also lists providers of temporary accommodation, for example, bed and breakfasts, guesthouses, and serviced apartments.

Employment and Career Support

• The placement rate of Cambridge University stands at 95%, meaning that 95 out of every 100 graduates get employed within 3 months of graduation.
• Data studied through the web shows that the graduate students of Harvard are working in companies like Deloitte, Google, UCL, McKinsey & Company, etc.
• Some of the biggest areas for which students are employed include English Language & Literature/Letters, Economics, Business Administration & Management, Law, Business, Commerce, etc.
• Cambridge University has more than 100 libraries at Cambridge.
• The University Library holds more than 8 million items. These include ancient manuscripts and electronic resources.

Tuition fees and scholarships for international students at Cambridge

• The annual fees at Cambridge University range from £22906.51 to £68847.79 for undergraduate courses and £25398.73 to £75820.53 for postgraduate courses.
• The University of Cambridge provides over 500 scholarships to fund 1100–1400 international students. However, the university maintains strict regulations pertaining to the employment of students during college time. Scholarships are mainly to ensure that everyone is able to bear the fees.

• International students can apply for top scholarship opportunities like:
  Arnold McNair Scholarship in International Law
  Claes Isacson Scholarship
  JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship
  Narotam Sekhsaria’s Scholarships
  Young Women in Public Affairs Awards
  
  
  In summary, Oxford and Cambridge ranked very highly as destination universities for international students due to world-class education, along with great reputation, diversity, and cultural experiences. All these aspects make them good destinations for students from all parts of the world looking to get top-notch education in a historically rich and lively setting. It can be really rewarding for international students to study at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
  
  International students can have a world-class education, the chance to belong to the largest overseas student numbers, and much exposure to the vibrant cultural heritage that permeates the ancient towns where these colleges sit. Another thing is the rich reputation attached to those institutions, and with this, additional career benefits, both in their home country and overseas. Staying at Oxford and Cambridge would, of course, be precious experiences, both in academia as well as in personal and professional development. For more expert insights and guidance on studying at top universities, visit TheProEducator.